"Kudu The kudus are two species of antelope of the genus ""Tragelaphus"": The name of the animal was imported into English in the 18th century from isiXhosa ""iqhude"", via Afrikaans ""koedoe"" part zebra part deer. Kudu, or koodoo, is the Khoikhoi name for this antelope. ""Tragos"" (Greek) denotes a he-goat and ""elaphos"" (Greek) a deer. ""Strepho"" (Greek) means ""twist"", and ""strephis"" is ""twisting"". ""Keras"" (Greek) refers to the horn of the animal. Lesser kudus come from the savanna near ""Acacia"" and ""Commiphora"" shrubs. They have to rely on thickets for protection, so they are rarely seen in the open. Their"
"cattle), and many scientists think recurring epidemics of the disease reduced kudu populations in East Africa. Kudus are highly susceptible to rabies in times of extended drought. They have been known to enter farm houses and other buildings when infected. Infected animals appear tame and have a distinct frothing at the mouth. They are fearless and bulls may sometimes attack humans who get too close to them. Kudu meat is similar to venison (deer), with a slight gamey, liver-like flavor. It is a very dry and lean meat, so it needs to be cooked carefully to avoid drying it out"
"African Republic. Although this alternative taxonomy is not commonly accepted, it was accepted in the ""Handbook of the Mammals of the World"". The range of the greater kudu extends from the east in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Eritrea and Kenya into the south where they are found in Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Other regions where greater kudu are located are Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Swaziland, and Uganda. They have also been introduced in small numbers into New Mexico, but were never released into the wild. Their habitat includes mixed"
"animal avoids open areas and long grass, preferring shaded areas with short grasses, instead. Found in woodlands and hilly areas, as well, the lesser kudu is generally found at altitudes below ; though they have been recorded at heights about near Mount Kilimanjaro. While individual home ranges of these animals are in size, those of males have an average size of and those of females . The lesser kudu is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, but it is extinct in Djibouti. Largely confined to the Horn of Africa today, the species historically ranged from Awash"
"only a few concentrated areas of food so the herds will congregate. Greater kudu are not territorial; they have home areas instead. Maternal herds have home ranges of approximately 4 square kilometers and these home ranges can overlap with other maternal herds. Home ranges of adult males are about 11 square kilometers and generally encompass the ranges of two or three female groups. Females usually form small groups of 6-10 with their offspring, but sometimes they can form a herd up to 20 individuals. Male kudus may form small bachelor groups, but they are more commonly found as solitary and"
"mountains, the greater kudu is not fast enough (and nor does it have enough stamina) to escape its main predators over open terrain, so it tends to rely on leaping over shrubs and small trees to shake off pursuers. Greater kudus have excellent hearing and acute eyesight which helps to alert them to approaching predators. Greater kudus have a life span of 7 to 8 years in the wild, and up to 23 years in captivity. They may be active throughout the 24-hour day. Herds disperse during the rainy season when food is plentiful. During the dry season, there are"
"months, the calf will be with its mother constantly, and at about six months they will permanently join the group. When threatened, the kudu will often run away rather than fight. Wounded bulls have been known to charge the attacker, hitting the attacker with their sturdy horn base rather than stabbing it. Wounded females can keep running for many miles without stopping to rest for more than a minute. They are great kickers and are capable of breaking a wild dog's or jackal's neck or back. They are good jumpers and can clear a 5-foot fence from a standing start."
"Kudus are browsers and eat leaves and shoots. In dry seasons they eat wild watermelons and other fruit for their liquid content and the natural sugars that they provide. The lesser kudu is less dependent on water sources than the greater kudu. Predators, such as lions and leopards, African wild dogs, hyenas, and sometimes pythons, hunt kudu and their young. Kudu numbers are also affected by humans hunting them for their meat, hides and horns, or using their habitats for charcoal burning and farming. Kudus were highly susceptible to the rinderpest virus (now eradicated after a vaccination program in domestic"
"in the death of both animals. Rarely will a herd reach a size of forty individuals, partly because of the selective nature of their diet which would make foraging for food difficult in large groups. A herd's area can encompass 800 to , and spend an average of 54% of the day foraging for food. Greater kudus reach sexual maturity between 1 and 3 years of age. The mating season occurs at the end of the rainy season, which can fluctuate slightly according to the region and climate. Before mating, there is a courtship ritual which consists of the male"
"from each eye to the centre of the dark face. A chevron is present between the eyes. The area around the lips is white, the throat has white patches, and two white spots appear on each side of the lower jaw. The underparts are completely white, while the slender legs are tawny and have black and white patches. The lesser kudu is characterised by large, rounded ears. Its tracks are similar to the greater kudu's. Females have four teats. The average lifespan is 10 years in the wild, and 15 years in captivity. Horns are present only on males. The"
"scrub woodlands (the greater kudu is one of the few largest mammals that prefer living in settled areas – in scrub woodland and bush on abandoned fields and degraded pastures, mopane bush and acacia in lowlands, hills and mountains. They will occasionally venture onto plains only if there is a large abundance of bushes, but normally avoid such open areas to avoid becoming an easy target for their predators. Their diet consists of leaves, grass, shoots and occasionally tubers, roots and fruit (they are especially fond of oranges and tangerines). During the day, greater kudus normally cease to be active"
"weeks (to avoid predation). After 4 or 5 weeks, the offspring will accompany its mother for short periods of time; then by 3 to 4 months of age, it will accompany her at all times. By the time it is 6 months old, it is quite independent of its mother. The majority of births occur during the wet season (January to March). In terms of maturity, female greater kudus reach sexual maturity at 15–21 months. Males reach maturity at 21–24 months. Greater kudus have both benefited and suffered from interaction with humans. Humans are turning much of the kudu’s natural"
"and instead seek cover under woodland, especially during hot days. They feed and drink in the early morning and late afternoon, acquiring water from waterholes or roots and bulbs that have a high water content. Although they tend to stay in one area, the greater kudu may search over a large distance for water in times of drought, in southern Namibia where water is relatively scarce they have been known to cover extensive distances in very short periods of time. Predators of the greater kudu generally consist of lions, Spotted hyenas, and African hunting dogs. Although cheetahs and leopards also"
"long legs, and their coats can range from brown/bluish grey to reddish brown. They possess between 4 and 12 vertical white stripes along their torso. The head tends to be darker in colour than the rest of the body, and exhibits a small white chevron which runs between the eyes. Greater kudu bulls tend to be much larger than the cows, and vocalize much more, utilizing low grunts, clucks, humming, and gasping. The bulls also have large manes running along their throats, and large horns with two and a half twists, which, were they to be straightened, would reach an"
"The lesser kudu is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, but it is extinct in Djibouti. It may have been present in Saudi Arabia and Yemen as recently as 1967, though its presence in the Arabian Peninsula is still controversial. The total population of the lesser kudu has been estimated to be nearly 118,000, with a decreasing trend in populations. One-third of the populations survive in protected areas. Presently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature rates the lesser kudu as ""near threatened"". The scientific name of the lesser kudu is ""Tragelaphus imberbis"". The animal is"
"standing in front of the female and often engaging in a neck wrestle. The male then trails the female while issuing a low pitched call until the female allows him to copulate with her. Gestation takes around 240 days (or eight months). Calving generally starts between February and March (late austral summer), when the grass tends to be at its highest. Greater kudus tend to bear one , although occasionally there may be two. The pregnant female kudu will leave her group to give birth; once she gives birth, the newborn is hidden in vegetation for about 4 to 5"
"Sunda cuckoo The Sunda cuckoo or Sunda lesser cuckoo (""Cuculus lepidus"") is a South-east Asian bird belonging to the genus ""Cuculus"" in the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. It was formerly classified with the Himalayan cuckoo (""C. saturatus"") and Oriental cuckoo (""C. optatus"") in a single species, ""C. saturatus"", but is now often regarded as a separate species based on differences in voice, size and plumage. It is 29–30 cm long. The upperparts, throat and upper breast are dark grey. The rest of the underparts are buff with black bars. The tail is blackish with white spots. The female also occurs in"
"rate of decline has increased to 20% over two decades. Presently, the IUCN rates the lesser kudu as ""near threatened"". Around a third of the population of the lesser kudu occurs in protected areas such as Awash, Omo and Mago National Parks (Ethiopia); Lag Badana National Park (Somalia); Tsavo National Park (Kenya); Ruaha National Park and game reserves (Tanzania), though it occurs in larger numbers outside these areas. Population density rarely exceeds 1/km., and is generally much lower. The handsome head of the male lesser kudu, with his elegant spiraled horns, is the symbol of the Saint Louis Zoo. Lesser"
"prey on greater kudus, they are unable to bring down a bull, and consequently target the more vulnerable cows and offspring. There are several instances reported where Nile crocodiles have preyed on greater kudus, although based on records the larger mammalian carnivores statistically are much more dangerous to the kudu and comparable large ungulates, or at least those with a preference for dry, upland habitats over riparian or swamp areas. When a herd is threatened by predators, an adult (usually female) will issue a bark to alert the rest of the herd. Despite being very nimble over rocky hillsides and"
"Sunda clouded leopard The Sunda clouded leopard (""Neofelis diardi"") is a medium-sized wild cat native to Borneo and Sumatra. In 2006, it was classified as a species, distinct from ""Neofelis nebulosa"" in mainland Southeast Asia. Since 2015, the Sunda clouded leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The total effective population size is estimated at fewer than 10,000 individuals, with a decreasing population trend. It is also known as the Sundaland clouded leopard, Enkuli clouded leopard, Diard's clouded leopard, and Diard's cat. The Sunda clouded leopard's coat is marked with irregularly-shaped, dark-edged ovals which are said to"
"widely dispersed individuals. Solitary males will join the group of females and calves (usually 6-10 individuals per group) only during the mating season (April–May in South Africa). The male kudus are not always physically aggressive with each other, but sparring can sometimes occur between males, especially when both are of similar size and stature. The male kudus exhibit this sparring behavior by interlocking horns and shoving one another. Dominance is established until one male exhibits the lateral display. In rare circumstances, sparring can result in both males being unable to free themselves from the other's horns, which can then result"
"36% standing and lying, and 29% in roaming. As the thinnest tragelaphine, the lesser kudu can move through dense vegetation with ease. The lesser kudu is a shy and wary animal. When alarmed, the animal stands motionless, confirming any danger. If it senses any approaching predator, it gives out a short sharp bark, similar to the bushbuck's, then makes multiple leaps up to high with an upraised tail. If captured by the predator, the victim gives a loud bleat. The lesser kudu is gregarious in nature. No distinct leader or any hierarchy is noted in the social structure; with no"
"be shaped like clouds, hence its common name. It has a stocky build, and weighs around . The canine teeth are long, which, in proportion to the skull length, are longer than those of any other living cat. Its tail can grow to be as long as its body, aiding balance. It is the largest cat in Borneo. Its hyoid bone is ossified, making it possible to purr. Its pupils contract into vertical slits. The Sunda clouded leopard is restricted to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In Borneo, it occurs in lowland rainforest, and at lower density in logged"
"and making it difficult to eat. A kudu horn is a musical instrument made from the horn of the kudu. A form of it is sometimes used as a shofar in Jewish ceremonies. It is mostly seen in the Western world in its use as a part of the Scouting movement's Wood Badge training program which, when blown, signals the start of a Wood Badge training course or activity. A horn of this shape, when used by soccer fans, is called ""kuduzela"" (a portmanteau of ""kudu"" and ""vuvuzela""). The kudu, ""tholo"" in the languages of Sepedi, Setswana and Venda, is"
"of the pudús include the horned owl, Andean fox, Magellan fox, cougar, and other small cats. The pudú is a wary animal that moves slowly and stops often, smelling the air for scents of predators. Being a proficient climber, jumper, and sprinter, the deer flees in a zigzag path when being pursued. The lifespan of the pudús ranges from 8 to 10 years in the wild. The longest recorded lifespan is 15 years and 9 months. However, such longevity is rare and most pudús die at a much younger age, from a wide range of causes. Maternal neglect of newborns,"
"territorial behavior, fights are uncommon. While fighting, the lesser kudus interlock horns and try pushing one another. Mutual grooming is hardly observed. Unlike most tragelaphines, females can be closely associated for several years. One to three females, along with their offspring, may form a group. Juvenile males leave their mothers when aged a year-and-a-half, and may form pairs. However, at the age of 4-5 years, males prefer a solitary lifestyle and avoid one another, though four or five bulls may share the same home range. Lesser kudu do not usually associate with other animals, except when they feed in the"
"means ""tree tiger"" or ""branch tiger"". The locals, however, call it ""macan pohon"" or ""harimau pohon"". Older newspaper articles still online: Sunda clouded leopard The Sunda clouded leopard (""Neofelis diardi"") is a medium-sized wild cat native to Borneo and Sumatra. In 2006, it was classified as a species, distinct from ""Neofelis nebulosa"" in mainland Southeast Asia. Since 2015, the Sunda clouded leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The total effective population size is estimated at fewer than 10,000 individuals, with a decreasing population trend. It is also known as the Sundaland clouded leopard, Enkuli clouded leopard,"
"browser, the lesser kudu feeds on foliage from bushes and trees (shoots, twigs) and herbs. Despite seasonal and local variations, foliage from trees and shrubs constitute 60–80% of the diet throughout the year. The lesser kudu is mainly active at night and during the dawn, and seeks shelter in dense thickets just after the sunrise. The lesser kudu exhibits no territorial behaviour, and fights are rare. While females are gregarious, adult males prefer being solitary. No fixed breeding season is seen; births may occur at any time of the year. The lesser kudu inhabits dry, flat, and heavily forested regions."
"large floods in their habitat they migrate to a high elevation and in dry seasons remain near water. Puku The puku (""Kobus vardonii"") is a medium-sized antelope found in wet grasslands in southern Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia. Nearly one-third of all puku are found in protected areas, zoos, and national parks due to their diminishing habitat. Puku stand about at the shoulder and weigh from . The puku is sandy brown in colour, with the underbelly a slightly lighter brown. The coat is rougher than the similar-sized southern reedbuck, lechwe or impala, or the smaller oribi."
"Kagu The kagu or cagou (""Rhynochetos jubatus"") is a crested, long-legged, and bluish-grey bird endemic to the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia. It is the only surviving member of the genus Rhynochetos and the family Rhynochetidae, although a second species has been described from the fossil record. Measuring in length, it has pale grey plumage and bright red legs. Its 'nasal corns' are a unique feature not shared with any other bird. Almost flightless, it spends its time on or near the ground, where it hunts its invertebrate prey, and builds a nest of sticks on the forest floor."
"Kumaon Mastiff The Kumaon Mastiff (Kumauni: सिप्रो कुकुर), also known as the Indian Mastiff and Bulli, is a rare Molosser-type working breed of dog originating in Uttarakhand state of India. Originally bred as a watch dog and livestock guardian in the hills of Kumaon, this dog is rare even in the region of its origin. It is said that the dogs primitive ancestors were domiciled in the Kumaon region. Kumaon Mastiff is a large dog with fairly lean, muscular, well-boned bodies. They have a large powerful head and a strong neck. They have a short, soft coat that always comes"
"cover has protected it from the risks of poaching. For instance, the lesser kudu is widespread in the Ogaden region, which is rich in dense bush, despite reckless hunting by local people. However, rinderpest outbreaks, to which the lesser kudu is highly susceptible, have resulted in a steep decline of 60% in the animal's population in Tsavo National Park in Kenya. Overgrazing, human settlement, and loss of habitat are some other threats to the survival of the lesser kudu. The total population of the lesser kudu has been estimated to be nearly 118,000, with a decreasing trend in populations. The"
"Mudi The Mudi (in Hungarian, the plural form of mudi is ""mudik"") is a herding dog breed from Hungary. It is closely related to the Puli and Pumi, from which it was separated in the 1930s. Today, the Mudi is bred for work, sport, companionship, and show. They continue to be used in herding, as well as participating in a variety of dog sports. The Mudi was first discovered as a breed in 1936 by Dr. Dezso Fenyes in Hungary, where it became known as the ""driver dog."" Its origin reaches well back into the 15th and 18th centuries, but"